How Nordstrom Uses WiFi To Spy On Shoppers

[Sherman A1]

Are people comfortable giving up even more privacy to help boost retailers’ bottom lines? That’s the aim of Nordstrom’s use of Euclid — a service that lets retailers track individuals’ movements through their smart phones’ in-store WiFi connections. But Nordstrom is quick to point out that the tracking is anonymous, so no worries.

Nordstrom is among 100 Euclid customers that the New York Times reports have “already tracked about 50 million devices in 4,000 locations.”

Nordstrom is using Euclid’s technology in 17 stores around the country, according to CBS-11. A Nordstrom spokesperson, Tara Darrow, told CBS-11 that ”sensors within the store collect information from customer smartphones as they attempt to connect to Wi-Fi service. The sensors can monitor which departments you visit and how much time you spend there. However, the sensors do not follow your phone from department to department, nor can they identify any personal information tied to the phone’s owner.”


http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2013/05/09/how-nordstrom-and-home-depot-use-wifi-to-spy-on-shoppers/?partner=yahootix

[hobbit709]

1. If I'm ever in a Nordstrom's, my dumb phone won't register on their tracking.

That's assuming TWO things:
1. I'm in a Nordstrom's
2. My phone is turned ON.

[tjwash]

2. so they have about 8 million archived texts that say...

... "OMG - that scarf is sooooo ugly lol" or something to that effect

Good to know.

[liberal N proud]

3. They will be disappointed to know that my phone does not have wifi!

[HappyMe]

4. Eh, I don't care.

They can track what you buy via the register and debit/credit cards.

[Robb]

5. How people move through stores would be valuable data to have.

I'd heard of the same sort of thing being done with cameras -- figuring out which displays capture shoppers' attention, and for how long. Even stuff as simple as "which way do most shoppers turn at points X Y and Z?" would help retailers focus their stock, probably in ways that would benefit everyone -- see "putting jerky in the beer aisle."

[randome]

8. So long as it's anonymous, I see no problem.

It's no more intrusive than stationing employees to watch which displays capture the most attention.

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[Robb]

10. That's my feeling, too.

[Renew Deal]

6. Nordstrom can determine a lot from unenencrypted network traffic on their network.

[Initech]

7. There's a good reason I don't use public wifi hotspots.

And there is an easy solution to this: turn your phone's wifi off! It's that simple!

[leveymg]

9. Guess they'll know when Mrs Doubtfire is visiting the lady's undergarment dept., again this week.

"Some of it's kinda comfortable."

[Junkdrawer]

11. WiFi is a big battery drain...to say nothing of privacy/personal security concerns....

I leave it off when I'm not home.

[randome]

13. I think the number of people using Wi-Fi in a store while shopping is miniscule for that reason.

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[Ian David]

12. Can they tell if I was looking at porn?

I'm asking for a friend.

[randome]

14. Yes.

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[leveymg]

16. Only if you're looking. Your phone tells them a lot of things - location, ID, URL addresses --

My question is: can this system plant a cookie in your browser, so they'll also know where you surf subsequently?

Can anyone tell us for sure what Local Area Networks do when your phone connects through a WiFi?

[HangOnKids]

15. Nordstrom is COMEDY GOLD!

If you ever want to see how vapid, lonely, and wealthy consumers spend their time just take a trip to Nordy. I had an Xmas gift to return and my daughter and I checked out the shoe department, while there we played out the "Date Night" scene where Tina Fey gives her take on people in the restaurant. We laughed so hard and my daughter who is 11 pegged the shoppers perfectly. We still crack up over that encounter.